Sheet transfer mechanism



y 15945- c. F. ROOT 2,367 5 SHEET TRANSFER MECHANI SM Filed Nov. 26, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENT OR.

CHARLES F. ROOT ATTORNEYS Jan. 16, 1945. c, 001- 2,367,529

SHEET TRANSFER MECHANISM Filed Nov. 26, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. CHARLES F, ROOT @MM QM,

ATTORNEYS Jan. 16, 1945. Q F, RO 2,367,529

SHEET TRANSFER MECHANISM Filed NOV. 26, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. CHARLES F. ROOT ATTORNEY Jan. 16, 1945. Q ROOT SHEET TRANSFER MECHANISM Filed NOV. 26, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. CHARLES F. ROOT I 0 Y ATTORN Jan. 16, 1941-5. c. F. ROOT 2,367,529

SHEET TRANSFER MECHANI SM 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 26, 1941 INVENTOR. CHARLES FROOT ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 16, 1 945 Charles F. Root, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The Chandler & Price. Company, Cleveland, Ohio, at corporationof' Ohio Application November 26, 1941 Serial No. 420,54 6

18- Claims.-

This invention relates as indicated tosheet transfer mechanism and more. particularly to sheet delivery means for use in conjunction with platen presses of the well-known Gordon type.

The sheet delivery mechanism of this inven-- tion constitutes an improvement over the device.

disclosed in my issued Patent No. 1,884,258 and is particularly advantageously employed in conjunction with a sheet feeding mechanism of. the type disclosed inmy Patent No. 2,260,684.. In platen printing presses, when both the feed and delivery tables are mounted at the front of the press (1. e., adjacent the upper edge of the platen), difiiculty is encountered in arranging such tables so that any considerable quantity of sheets can be printed withoutreplenishment of the feed stack or removal of accumulated sheets from thedelivery table. With the feed tablebelow the delivery table trouble arises, since. as the feed table progressively rises and the delivery table.

progressively descends, the two would sooninterfere with each other. When employing feed and delivery tables at the front of the press, the feed table being above the delivery table,. it has been necessary for the feeding mechanism to the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointedoutin the claims.

The annexed drawings and. the following de scription set. forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting. however, but one. of various mechanism forms in. which the principle. of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings:

Fig. 1. is a side elevational viewjof a platen.

printing press showing my new sheet delivery mechanism mounted laterally thereof;

Fig. 2' is a. front elevati'onalview of the press showing my new delivery mechanism. and a portion of. the sheet. feeding mechanism;

Fig. 3. is a fragmentary top plan view of. the

press showing the action. of my sheet delivery carry the, sheet being fed ina path of movement above that of the sheet being delivered bythe sheet delivery mechanism. This has involvedv a: somewhat complex operating structure and a nice adjustment of parts to prevent interference between the feeding and delivery mechanism. Also, the tops of the stacks will beat inconvenient levels for operation of the sheet transfermeans. Or, instead of vertically movable tables, elaborate conveyor means may be provided. On the other hand, it has been found very desirable to employ sheet feeding mechanism of" the type disclosed in my Patent No. 2,260,684 since the same is relatively simple in its movements and yet capable of delicate and precise adjustment.

It istherefore a primary object of my invention to provide sheet delivery mechanism wherebya sheet may be removed or delivered from the platen in a path of movement above" the path of movement of a sheet in course of being simultaneously fed to the platen from a stack located adjacent the forward or upper edge of the platen.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel sheet picker assembly incorporating adjusting means which also acts asasafety device to prevent improper mounting. of the sheet picker means.

Another object of my invention. is'to provide means for synchronizing, the rise of afeed table located at the front of the press with the. descent of. adelivery table locatedlaterally of the press.

--Other objects of. my invention. will appear as the description proceeds.

' To the accomplishment of. the foregoingv and related. ends, said invention, then, consists of and sheet feeding means;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top sectional view ,off

the mechanism for elevating, the feed table and lowering the delivery table in synchronism;

Fig. 5- is a side elevational view of the feed table elevating mechanism taken along the line 5-5 on Fig. 4;

Fig- 6, is. a top sectional view taken along the line 6-6 on Fig. 1 of the means for. operating the sheet delivery mechanism;

Fig. '7. is a fragmentary elevational view of a portionof. the. sheet picker assembly showing ad-i justing means therefor; Fig, 8- is. an elevational view of. such assembly takenialong theline 8-8.onFig. 7; and

Fig. 9. is a top view ofv the portion of such assembly illustrated. in Fig. 7.

Now referring more specifically to the drawings, mounted across thefront of frame I ofthe press is a cam shaft 2'. adapted to be driventhrough gear 3. Alsomounted at the front of the press isv a feed table 3 adapted to carry a stack of sheetsfi which are fed to the platen 6 of the press by sheet feeder bar 1, such feeder bar being carried by a feeder bar carrier 8 which is pivotally mounted onthe press at its lower end 9 andadapted to. be actuated in the manner explained in my aforesaid. patent. Mounted laterally. of. thezpressv is-a delivery table 10 adapted to receive. sheets I l. deposited thereon by sheet delivery bar [-2 inthemanner to bedescribed below.

Bracket frame member l3, mounted laterally of the press, has the end-0f cam shaft 2 journalled therein and also serves as the support upon which the deliverytablemechanism is mounted. Also mounted. on the side of the press isa. cylinder [4. having a vacuum line 15 communicating with the lower end. thereoiand an upright tubular member I5 fitting in its upper end for reciprocation therein. A bracket l1, likewiseattached to the frame of the press,. additionally supports member 16. while permitting vertical reciprocation of the latter. Freely pivotally mounted about the lower portion of member I6 is a member l8 spaced from cylinder I4 by a washer Hi and bearing rocker arms 20 and 2|. Arm 2a is connected by means of a ball and socket joint with link 22 (see Figs. 1 and 6) which is in turn connected at its other end by ball and socket means with the upper end of lever 23 pivotally mounted on the frame of the press. A cam roller 24 carried by such lever is held in engagement with cam 25 keyed to cam shaft 2 by means of a tension spring 26. It will thus be seen that as cam 25 rotates, link 22 Will be reciprocated to oscillate rocker arm 20 and consequently also arm 2|. 7

Fixedly clamped to member I is a member 21 carrying 2. depending slide or finger 28 adapted to engage the slotted end of arm 2| wherein vertical reciprocation is facilitated by roller 29. A horizontal cam track is also provided between flanges 30 and 3| wherein roller 32, mounted on the end of lever 33, is adapted to move. Lever 33 is pivotally mounted on bracket l3 and carries at its other end a cam roller 34 held in engagement with cam 35 by means of tension spring 36. Thus as cam 35 revolves, lever 33 will be rocked to cause vertical reciprocation of member I6, finger 28 sliding in the end of arm 2|. Moreover, since, as above indicated, member 21 is fixedly positioned on member 16, as arm 2| is oscillated by action of cam 25, as above described, member |6 will be caused to pivot about its vertical axis. Since arm 31, which supports the delivery picker bar I2, is carried by the upper end of member I5, such arm and picker bar will be oscillated from a position 38 (see Fig. 3) over the platen to the position shown in solidline in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive. Cam 35 is shaped so that the delivery picker means will be rather abrupt- 1y elevated as it quits the platen and maintain such elevation as it swings to the delivery table laterally of the press. In this fashion it is enabled to avoid interference with feeder bar 1 which is simultaneously in process of moving from feed table 4 to position 39 on the platen.

The vertical member or support 6 which thus serves as the delivery picker bar'carrier has a laterally offset upper end portion 40 terminating in an upwardly directed portion on which a tubular picker bar supporting bracket 4| is sleeved for pivotal movement relative thereto. As shown in Fig. 7 (and also .in dotted outline in Figs. 1 and 2), such laterally offset portion 40 is inclined to the axis of support I6, 1. e., to the vertical, at a slightly obtuse angle. This angle corresponds with the angle of inclination of the platen B when in open position, as shown in dot ted outline in Fig. 1. In other words, the picker bar is mounted on such end portion 40 of support I6 about an axis inclined to the axis of said support substant ally the same as the angle of inclination of such platen when in open position. It follows that angular adjustment of arm 31 about portion 40 (such adjustment being accomplished by means now to be described) will serve to swing the picker bar |2 in a plane parallel to that of the platen.

Tubular arm 31, carried by such bracket member, is telescopically extensible in the usual manher as is the picker bar I2 and all such tubular members communicate one with another so that when suction is applied through line l5 such suction will enable sucker tips 42 to seize the sheet to be delivered. The picker bar |2 is furthermore secured to the end of arm 31 in the usual manner so as to be angularly adjustable about an axis parallel to that about which the arm is adjustable on support I6. For the latter purpose, clamping means 43 is provided for locking bracket 4| in the desired pivotal position and additional adjusting and safety means is provided to facilitate proper locating of the delivery picker bar and to prevent damage should the operator inadvertently neglect to tighten clamp 43. Such adjusting and safety means comprises a screw 44 mounted in threaded bracket 45 on oifset portion 40 of vertical member IS. A knurled lock nut 45 is provided to lock the screw in desired position. A depending finger 41 is carried by arm 48 extending from bracket member 4| and such finger is received between spaced discs 49 and 50 carried by such screw. It will therefore be clear that as screw 44 is turned, arm 31 will be corre spondingly swung and the position of picker bar I2 may be delicately adjusted relative to the position-of the sheet to be picked from the platen. Furthermore, once bracket member 4| has been sleeved in place with finger 41 between the two discs, it is obvious that arm 31 cannot swing freely when the press is started in operation even when the operator has momentarily forgotten to tighten clamp 43. A not uncommon source of damage to the mechanism is thereby precluded.

The feed table 4 at the front of the press is carried by a column 5| slidably mounted in bracket 52 and adapted to be elevated by pinion 53 engaging rack teeth 54 on such column. Such pinion in turn is mounted on a shaft 55 adapted to be driven through pawl and ratchet means responsive to the action of a feeler finger on the top of the stack of sheets 5 carried by table 4. A cam 56 operative to rock arm 51 and thereby reciprocate link 58 supplies the power to such pawl and ratchet means for elevating the table. The pawl and ratchet means is of conventional type well known in such devices and is therefore not shown'in detail. Clutch means 59 operated by lever 60 is provided to disengage the driving means when it is desired to manually adjust the position of the table by rotation of hand wheel 6|. Delivery table In is carried on a column 5| slidable in upper bracket 52 supported by bracket I3. Such delivery table is of course positioned laterally of the press and therefore at right angles to feed table 4. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 2, said delivery table is tilted toward the adjacent side of the press so that the successive sheets as dropped thereon by picker bar l2 will be correspondingly inclined. As a matter of fact,

the sheets will be laid on the table in a plane approximately parallel to the plane of the latter due to the angular disposition of laterally offset portion 40 of support l6. Like parts in the delivery table operating mechanism will be designated by the same numbers employed in identi-v fying the parts of the feed table mechanism, such numbers being primed. N0 pawl and ratchet mechanism is provided to lower the delivery table as sheets are stacked thereon, but a gear 62 is provided on shaft 55 and engaging a worm on shaft 53 which carries a sprocket 64 adjacent one end. Rotation of gear 62 is operative to rotate shaft 55 and pinion 53 through the intermediary of clutch 58. It is the rotation of such shaft 33 by the aforesaid pawl and ratchet means which is therefore operative to elevate the feed table. A similar gear 82 is mounted on shaft 55' and operative to rotate such shaft through clutch 59. Gear 62' is adapted to be driven by a worm 65 on shaft 53'. a sprocket 64 being keyed to the other end of such shaft. A chain" 2,367,529 connects: sprockets 64. and 64. sotha-t as thefeedz' table. is elevated: by rotation of; shaft 63, shaft 63 will likewise be rotated to. lower the. delivery tablein synchronism therewith. It is obvious that since pinions 5'3- and 53" are on opposite sides of their respective columns. 5| and 51/, column 5 I"' will? be lowered as column 5 I is elevated.

Back member til operativeito position: stack H: on deliver table w is carried by a bracket. 63'

adjustable back and forth by rotation of handle 69 operative to rotate a. pinion engaging rack. T0. The operation of the mechanism of this invention is believed to be obvious. from the foregoing description. and it will be seen that a sheet delivery mechanism has been provided which is operative to deliver a sheet from the platen to a delivery table laterally of the. press, thepath of movement of such delivery mechanism being above the path of movement of the sheet in course of being simultaneously fed to the platen from the: stack located'. at. the front of the press. It will furthermore-be seen that such mechanism is capable of quick. adjustment to. accommodate various sizes of sheets and when once properly adjustedis. entirely automatic in. action.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be" employed instead of' the oneexplained, change being: made as regards the means and the steps herein disclosed, provided those stated by any of the following: claims or their equivalent. be employed.

I therefore: particularly point out and distinctl'y'claim asimy invention:

1.. Inzplaten presses and. the like, sheet: delivery means operative to deliver a. sheet laterally of the press; said: sheet delivery means comprising sheet. picker means, picker carrier means, means for reciprocating said picker carrier means substantially vertically, and means for pivotally moving said picker carrier means to swing said sheet picker means from a position above the platen of such press to'a position laterally of such press in su'chtimed relation: to such reciprocation that said sheet picker means are first substantially elevated from aposition Where direct engagement is had with a sheet upon such platen prior to sai di means being swung laterally.

2; In platen presses and the like, sheet delivery means operative to deliver a printed sheet laterally of the press, said sheet delivery means comprising sheet picker means, picker carrier means, cam means operative to reciprocate said picker carrier means substantially vertically, and

other cam means operative to rotate said picker carrier means about a. substantially vertical axis to swing said sheet picker means from a position immediately above the platen of such press to a position laterally of such press in such timed relation to such reciprocation that said sheet picker means is immediately elevated from a position Where direct engagement is had with a sheet upon such: platen. prior to said means being swung laterally;

3-. In platen printing presses and the like, sheet feeding means" operative. to feed a sheet to the platen: of such press, sheet delivery means operative todeliver a printed sheet laterally of the press in'ti'mecl relation with the action of sheet feeding mechanism operative to feed a sheet to the platen of' such press from a stack located adjacent the. upper edgeof such platen, said delivery means comprising an arm pivotally mounted adjacent the side of such press, sheet-picker means carried by said arm, means for swinging said armto-move said picker means from a position. immediately above-such. platen toia position laterally of such p ess and' means operative to raise/said. arm to. elevate said picker means from a position where. direct engagement is. had with a sheet upon such platen sufiiciently to pass above such. sheet. feeding. means in process. of feeding a sheet to: such platen prior to said means being swunglaterally. c

4;. Inplaten: printing presses and the like, sheet feeding; means. operative. to feed a sheet to the platen of such press from a stack located ad'- jacent. the: upper edge of such platen and sheet delivery means. operative to deliver a sheet from such platen to a position laterally of such press, said sheet delivery means comprising an. upright member, an arm. mounted. on the upper end of said member, sheetpicker means carried by said arm, means: for swinging said am to move said sheet picker means from a position immediately above: such platen: to a position laterallyof such press,. and. cam. means for reciprocating said member to elevate said. sheet picker means sufliciently froma positionwhere direct engagement is hadv with a sheet upon. such platen to pass above. said sheet feeding means in process of feedingasheet tosuch platen prior to said means beingswung'laterallyz 5. Inplaten printing presses and the like, sheet transfer means comprising a vertically reciprocable member mountedlaterally of such press for pivotal movement about its vertical axis, a

lever pivotally mounted on the-.frame of' said i press to a position laterally of such press as said member rotates, said cams being disposed to cause substantially vertically upward movement of said memberv from a' position where direct engagement isv had with a. sheet upon such platen before said picker means: begins its swinging movement away from: such platen.

6. Inplaten printing presses and the like, sheet delivery means comprising a vertically reciprocable. member mounted: laterally of such press for pivotal movement about its vertical axis, a lever pivotallymounted on the frame of said press intermediate of its ends, a cam engaging one end of said lever and operative to rock the same, a cam roller on. the other end of said lever; a camway on. said member engaging said cam roller whereby said member may be. vertically recipro'cated, anarm pivota-lly'mounted on said member, vertically disposed slide means connecting said arm and. member. whereby said arm and member will be caused to rotate together but said member may he reciprocated" Without causing vertical movement of said arm, another lever mounted on such frame, link means connecting said last named lever. and arm, cam. means operative to rock said last-named: lever to rotate said member, and sheet picker? means carried. by the upper end of: said: member: and; adapted to swing from a position immediately above the platen of such press-to a position laterally of: suchpress as sai'd member rotates, saida cams being. disposed to.

cause substantially vertically upward'move'ment of said member from a position where direct. engagement is had with a sheet upon such platen before said picker means begins its swinging movement away from such platen.

7. In platen printing presses and the like, sheet picker means comprising a picker bar carrier having a laterally offset upper end portion, a picker bar supporting bracket mounted on said offset portion for pivotal movement about a substantially vertical axis, and means associated with said picker bar carrier for adjustably setting the pivotal location of said bracket relative to said picker bar carrier.

8. In platen printing presses and the like, sheet picker means comprising a substantially vertical tubular member having a laterally offset upper end portion terminating in an upwardly directed portion, a tubular picker bar supporting bracket sleeved on said upwardly directed terminal portion for pivotal movement relative thereto, clamping means for locking said bracket in desired pivotal position, a depending fing'er carried by said bracket, a screw mounted on said offset portion of said vertical tubularmember, and a pair of spaced disks carried by said screw adapted to receive the end of said finger therebetween, said bracket being adjustably positioned by rotation of said screw and held in desired pivotal position thereby even when said clamping means has not been properly tightened.

9. In platen printing presses and the like, sheet picker means comprising a substantially vertical member, a laterally extending picker bar supporting arm mounted on said vertical member for pivotal movement about a substantially vertical axis, a depending finger carried by said laterally extending arm, a screw mounted on said vertical member, and a pair of spaced disks carried by said screw and adapted to receive said finger therebetween.

10. In platen printing presses and the like, sheet picker means comprising a substantially vertical tubular member, a laterally extending tubular picker bar supporting arm sleeved on the upper end of said vertical member for pivotal movement relative thereto, a depending finger carried by said laterally extending arm, a screw mounted on said vertical member, a pair of spaced disks carried by said screw and adapted to receive said finger therebetween, and a tubular sheet picker bar carried by said tubular arm and communicating therewith.

11. In platen presses and the like, a sheet I transferring device including a vertical support both reciprocable longitudinally of and oscillatory about its axis, said support having a laterally offset upper end portion inclined to the axis of said support at an angle substantially the same as that of the platen when in open position and terminating in a rectangularly related, upwardly directed portion, and a picker bar carried by said last-named portion disposed in one oscillatory pos tion of said support to extend over such platen.

12. In platen presses and the like, a sheet transferring device including a vertical support both reciprocable longitudinally of and oscillatory about its axis, said support having a laterally offset upper end portion inclined to the axis of said support at an angle substantially the same as that of the platen when in open position and terminating in a rectangularly related, upwardly directed portion, and a picker bar carried by said last-named portion disposed in one oscillatory position of said support to extend over such platen, said picker bar being angularly adjustable about the axis of said last-named portion.

13. In platen presses and the like, a sheet transferring device including a vertical support both reciprocable longitudinally of and oscillatory about its axis, said support having a laterally offset upper end portion inclined to the axis of said support at an angle substantially the same as that of the platen when in open position and terminating in a rectangularly related, upwardly directed portion, and a picker bar carried by said last-named portion disposed in one oscillatory position of said support to extend over such platen, said picker bar being angularly adjustable about the axis of said last-named portion and about a parallel axis spaced from such firstnamed axis.

14. In platen presses and the like, a sheet transferring device including a vertical support both reciprocable longitudinally of and oscillatory about its axis, said support having a laterally offset upper end portion inclined to the axis of said support at an angle substantially the same as that of the platen when in open position and terminating in a rectangularly related, upwardly directed portion, a bracket mounted on such upwardly directed portion for pivotal movement about the axis thereof, a picker bar carried by said bracket, and means for adjustably setting the pivotal location of said bracket relatively to such laterally offset upper end portion.

15. In platen presses and the like, a sheet transferring device including a vertically extending support both reciprocable longitudinally of and oscillatory about its axis, said support having a laterally offset upper end portion, and a picker bar adjustably mounted on said portion about an axis inclined to the axis of said support.

16. In platen presses and the like, a sheet transferring device including a vertically extending support both reciprocable longitudinally of and oscillatory about its axis, said support having a laterally offset upper end portion, an arm adjustably mounted on said portion about an axis inclined to the axis of said support, and a picker bar adjustably mounted in turn on said arm about an axis parallel with the axis of the latter.

17. In platen presses and the like, wherein the platen is inclined to the vertical when in open position, a sheet transferring device including a vertically extending support both reciprocable longitudinally of and oscillatory about its axis, said support having a laterally offset upper end portion, and a picker bar adjustably mounted on said portion about an axis inclined to the axis of said support substantially the same as the angle of inclination of such platen when in open position.

18. In platen presses and the like, wherein the platen is inclined to the vertical when in open position, a sheet transferring device including a. vertically extending support both reciprocable longitudinally of and oscillatory about its axis, said support having a laterally offset upper end portion, an arm adjustably mounted on said portion about an axis inclined to the axis of said support substantially the same as the angle of inclination of such platen when in open position, and a picker bar adjustably mounted on said por tion about an axis parallel with the axis of said arm.

CHARLES F. ROOT. 

